pop - Aug 05, 2011

Brandon Rhyder • Jeremy Steding • Weldon Henson • Caravact

pop

INSIDE

A Chorus Line Oklahoma City’s Lyric Theatre presents its production of the nine-time Tony Award winner.

PAGE 6

Friday, Aug. 5, 2011

Facebook.com/normanpop

@TranscriptPOP

pop Kendall Brown, editor Stacy Swan, layout artist CONTACT US

Phone: 366-3533 Fax: 366-3516 pop@normantranscript.com WEEKLY DEADLINE NOON TUESDAY All faxed or mailed information submitted must be typed and send to pop@normantranscript.com.

NINE NIGHTS CALENDAR Submissions should include event name, time, date, location and admission price.

PATRONS Photo submissions must be highresolution and include caption information with the names of people in the photo, along with the date, place and name of event where it was taken. Photos are printed as space allows.

pop is published each Friday by The Norman Transcript, P.O. Box 1058, Norman, OK 73070.

To advertise, call 366-3554.

CORRECTION POLICY

Corrections of errors in fact will be published in this space and will be made as soon as possible after the error has been brought to the editor’s attention CONNECT Facebook.com/ normanpop Twitter.com/ transcriptpop ON THE COVER

From left: Robert Montano, Natascia Diaz, Lexi Windsor and Felipe Gonzalez Quillin star in the Lyric Theatre’s “A Chorus Line.” Photo by Keith Rinearson, provided

2

pop

THE DISH

High Notes

PAD THAI

Thai Thai

By K e n d a ll POP Edit or

Bro w n

Thanks to those still fighting the good fight for the arts

E

arlier this summer, President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Michael Kaiser wrote a widely circulated column, “Why Do We Do This?,” in which he said now is the most difficult time to work in the management of arts since his entrance into the field 26 years ago.

There are a lot of numbers supporting that claim. In the 2011 fiscal year, the originally $174 million National Endowment for the Arts budget was ultimately cut down to $155 million. This year, the NEA has already lost an additional $20 million. In the past week, many members of Congress were pushing to remove an additional $10 million from the budget as a part of Michigan U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg’s proposed balancedbudget ammendment.

Sure, $155 million sounds like a lot of money, but let me put things in perspective.

During debate over the proposed additional $10 million in cuts, U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, DKy., compared the proposed cuts to the same amount spent in the first few minutes in Libya or within the first hour of the U.S. occupation of Afganistan.

U.S. Rep. James Moran, D-Va., said the $10 million was a mere three-hundredths of 1 percent of U.S. non-defense, domestic discretionary funding.

Luckily, thanks to these, and many more arts supporters in Congress (including Oklahoma U.S. Reps. Tom Cole and Frank Lucas, both of whom voted against the additional cuts) the NEA was spared this additional budget slash.

But times are still rough. Money

Friday, Aug. 5, 2011

is tight for the government and for citizens. As Kaiser said in his article, tough economic times have “made our audiences more pricesensitive and our donors less likely to make major contributions.”

Despite this, arts leaders across the state and the nation are continuing to push the value of arts, both in our communities and our educational systems. For this they deserve our gratitude. In the current political climate, for every tip of the hat these arts advocates receive, there’s someone else waiting in the wings to proclaim the uselessness of the arts. But that doesn’t stop them.

So POP would like to thank just a few of those advocates in our community: Julia Kirt — No column highlighting arts leadership in Oklahoma would be complete without mention of Kirt.

Serving as the executive director of the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition since 1999, Kirt has Julia Kirt helped drive some of the state’s most influential arts programs of the last decade.

Momentum OKC and Tulsa, OVAC grants and fellowships and the annual 12x12 Art Show and Sale — Kirt has a hand in all of them. In 2008, she was named the “Emerging Leader” by Americans for the Arts.

Douglas Shaw Elder — Serving as the executive director of the Firehouse Art Center in Norman for the past four years,

Elder has had a huge impact on the the arts programming and especially the arts education in Norman. Elder is also a working artist and has exhibited both Douglas Shaw Elder nationally and internationally.

Elder manages to find time to create incredible sculpture work while also ensuring that Norman-area students receive a quality arts education.

Jerrod Smith — If you regularly read POP, you should already know a little bit about Smith.

We featured Smith’s new organization, The Society, last week. A relative newcomer in this list of heavyhitters, Smith Jerrod Smith has already seized the reigns of leadership within the arts community and looks poised to make a huge impact on both how the Oklahoma arts community functions and how it evaluates itself.

So why do they do it, in these challenging times? Perhaps, as Kaiser said in his column, it’s because of the community reaction, the excited faces and the astonishing new ideas just waiting to be explored: “... Suddenly, the fears simply feel like challenges to overcome and going back to work each morning seems like a privilege rather than a sentence.”

Daniel Walker nominated Thai Thai this week as his favorite place in Norman to snag a plate of of pad thai. Thai Thai, 780 W. Main St., offers up pad thai with your choice of chicken, beef, pork, tofu, shrimp or combination meat stir fried with your choice of rice, glass, egg or flat noodle in homemade pad thai sauce. The chicken, beef, pork and tofu pad thai is available for $8.99 while the shrimp and combination meat pad thai is available for $10.99.

The Dish is a weekly feature dedicated to reader suggestions on Norman’s culinary highlights. Next week’s category: Frozen cocktails — who makes your favorite? To nominate, email pop@normantranscript.com.

DIY DELICACIES Biscuit Pizzas Ingredients 1 pound ground beef 1 small onion, chopped 1 ⁄2 teaspoon garlic salt 2 tubes refrigerated biscuits 1 can (15 oz) pizza sauce 1 ⁄4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided 1 can (4 oz) mushroom stems and pieces, drained 1 cup (4 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese Directions In a skillet, cook beef, onion and garlic salt over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Separate biscuits. Place 3 in. apart on greased baking sheets; flatten into 3-in. circles. Spread each with pizza sauce. Sprinkle with half of the Parmesan cheese. Top with meat mixture and mushrooms. Sprinkle with mozzarella and remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake at 400° for 10-12 minutes or until cheese is melted. Yield: 4-6 servings.

Have a DIY recipe for a beverage or side you want featured? Email pop@normantranscript.com.

3750 W. Robinson (405)360-4386

Brookhaven Village 447-8445 Store Hours:M-F 10:00-7:00 Sat 9:30-6:00

Call (405) 321-6460 for an Assessment!

Buy a Hummingbird Feeder Get a Second at 30% OFF

Home Furnishings • Antiques • Gifts • Acces-

“Bring this ad in for

10% off storewide!

*Some exclusions may apply*

3720 W Robinson • Suite 100 • 405-364-0728 theosmarketplace.com

A Norman Tradition NW 36TH & ROBINSON, NORMAN • 321-7500

3770 W. Robinson, Norman, OK 73072 (405) 321.8686 • www.wbu.com/norman

MUSIC REVIEWS

Brandon Rhyder

venerable honky tonk.

Back in 2007, we here at POP positively reviewed Rhyder’s last live album and noted the production work with his friend and fellow Texas musician Radney Foster. Foster appears this time and shares vocals with Rhyder on “Before I Knew Your Name” and the smooth “Lord, I Hope This

Day Is Good,” featured as a studio track on disc two, as well.

The rural menace of “Backroads” segues effortlessly into Hank Jr.’s “A Country Boy Can Survive.”

“Rock Angel,” a recent hit, gives side 2 momentum, while his performance of “You Can’t Outdrink the Truth” with Walt Wilkins and the tender “Freeze Frame Time,” a crowd favorite, simply soars.

As noted, Rhyder includes some new studio tracks, including “In the Country” and “Let the Good Times Roll.” Great songs all.

— Andrew W. Griffin

Mystiquero Walt Wilkins in the production booth.

And with Wilkins’ help, Steding pulls out an eclectic country collection, from the drinkin’ music of the title track to the dreamy, bittersweet folk of “Arkansas Rain.”

A unique and important voice on the Texas/Red Dirt scene, Steding heads to the coast for the spot-on “Sometimes, You Need a Hurricane” and back in time to the 1860s on the haunting Civil War tale “Five Aprils.”

Steding and his studio band understand what makes a good country song.

Musicianship, songwriting skills and a sense of history.

These, Steding and crew have in spades.

— Andrew W. Griffin

Gone,” and he has managed to continue to impress this dancehall dreamer.

Embracing a decidedly traditional country sound while remaining firmly in modern styles, Henson keeps his instantly accessible and appealing honky-tonk groove on tracks like “Pass Me the Wine” or the fiddleinfused country-rock of “Turned to the Bottle.”

A good Henson ballad

appears in the form of “I’m Still Here.” The same can be said of the Strait-nJones-inspired “I Don’t Take Cheating (Very Lightly Anymore).”

“One Heart’s Gone” is 11 great songs to help introduce you to a fine Texas artist, in case you have not heard him.

Definitely one to pick up this summer.

— Andrew W. Griffin

“Live at Billy Bob’s Texas” Smith Music (2011)

For a decade or so, Carthage, Texas native Brandon Rhyder has been garnering increased attention as a class act on the ever-expanding, regional Texas/Red Dirt music scene.

Rhyder, who tours incessantly and has some quality albums under his belt, recorded his own double disc live at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth. Rhyder is the 39th artist to record at the

Jeremy Steding “I Keep On Livin’, But I Don’t Learn” Independent (2011)

With his rich-and-rugged baritone, Jeremy Steding has returned with a solid follow-up to 2009’s “A Damn Good Ride,” an album that got positive marks at Red Dirt Report.

With “I Keep On Livin’…,” Steding has some solid assistance from

Weldon Henson “One Heart’s Gone” Hillbilly Renegade (2011)

On the traditional Texas country scene, few artists come across as more authentic than Weldon Henson.

Henson has followed up “Trouble For Me” with his third disc, “One Heart’s

4

pop

Friday, Aug. 5, 2011

Caravact “Caravact” Zanzibar! Records (2011)

“Caravact” is an obscure Serbian word that means “sixpiece rock guitar band with keys and horns.”

Just kidding. It’s a not-inthe-dictionary word that figured into one of the members’ dreams that also involved a record player and carnival tent.

Caravact’s personnel are Mike Monroe (drums), Jake Monroe (guitar, mandolin and vocals), Nathan Richards (bass, vocals), Russell Bourn (tenor saxophone, vocals), Ronnie Robinson (guitar) and Beau Mansfield (keyboards).

In 2007 Caravact came together as a creative force in Chickasha and have been playing metro venues frequently this summer. Their music is an eclectic flavor of rock that varies in sound significantly from track to track in the 13 songs with titles including “Shotgun Wedding,” “Angela Sinatra” and “I Could Have Been a Scientist.”

Some cuts are characterized by insistently heavy guitar and rough-edged male vocals as on “Five Dollar Friends.” Guest vocalists, flute, baritone sax and synthesizer add attractive depth to this album.

Although the lyrics are mostly discernible I really couldn’t tell you what any of them are about. The songs are all about 3 minutes long and the words poetically inscrutable.

“December Was For Bears” has memorably profane lyrics, especially with a melancholy saxophone caterwauling behind them. Caravact’s first LP is soundtrack for the kind of movies that play in fever dreams.

— Doug Hill

Photo Provided

The JonBear Fourtet will play the Summer Breeze concert series Sunday

JonBear Fourtet to play Summer Breeze on Sunday POP Staff The free Summer Breeze concert series will continue Sunday with the JonBear Fourtet performing at 7:30 p.m. at Lions Park, at the corner of Symmes and Flood avenues. The JonBear Fourtet is composed of Jonathan Barnoskie, vocals and guitar; Nathan Harwell, drums; Chris Schroeder, trumpet; Kyle Reid, guitar; David Hickey, bass and Trevor Galvin, sax.

The group formed over four years ago, playing bars, eateries, weddings, mitzvahs, corporate parties, and festivals. The band has expanded to six members including their beloved horn section. While greatly influenced by music of past decades, the Jonbear Fourtet does a fantastic job creating a sound that is original and completely their own.

Whether the numerous stories told in and between songs at the Fourtet’s performances are true is something for the listener to decide, but listeners do agree that no matter where the music may or may not have come from they know that they haven’t heard anything like it before. Some are content to sit and tap a foot, others may find themselves reminiscing over places they’ve never even been. The tunes are new, yet nostalgic at the same time. Fact or fiction, music or myth, when The Jonbear Fourtet performs, an invitation is extended to everyone in the audience to enjoy some music, listen to a story, and have some fun. Bring seating and refreshments for an evening of great music!

For more information call the Performing Arts Studio, 307-9320, or visit www.pasnorman.org.

POP GETS LIT

Tom Waits opens up in book of interviews Milwaukee Journal Sentinel In “Tom Waits on Tom Waits: Interviews and Encounters,” editor Paul Maher Jr. has compiled more than 50 interviews from singer-songwriter Tom Waits to “illustrate his creative progression through the years.” Maher has organized them chronologically around Waits’ albums, beginning with “Closing

What Wouldn’t Jesus Do?

Time” (1973).

The public first heard Waits in the ‘70s as a boozy singer-songwriter with a gravelly voice and a talent for wordplay, unafraid to share his respect for the rough-edged writer Charles Bukowski and the late Jack Kerouac. With deepening and variations, Waits mined similar musical and personal territory through “Heartattack and Vine” (1980).

REVIEW

by Carlton “Bernie” Bernwall Tate Publishing (2011)

The argument that Christians should “practice what they preach” is ages old. The Greeks were known to mock the early followers of Christ when they were caught in the midst of hypocritical action with the sarcastic phrase: “Boy, aren’t you Christlike?”

Too often this is the case.

A distinct and indelible memory that I will always carry with me from my freshman year of college at the University of Oklahoma took place on a beautiful, sunny afternoon just outside of Dale Hall. Dale Hall, being one of the most highly trafficked buildings on campus, is a favored spot for street-side preachers to post up and peddle their spiritual wares. I believe this particular evangelist was extolling the sinfulness of girls wearing pants. He was extolling it loudly. Scratch that … the guy was screaming at everyone who passed by telling them they were bound for hell. I remember looking at him and thinking that his demeanor did not portray the love of Christ in any way, choosing instead to champion hate and fear. I said nothing, but a group of

“What Wouldn’t Jesus Do?” by Carlton “Bernie” Bernwall frat boys were not so squeamish in regard to their feelings on the matter, probably because they were passing a bottle with copious amounts of rum and coke around the group. They were calling him out on his hypocrisy. Most of the time, when I see a person or persons calling out a Christian or Christians in regard to their own hypocrisy it is somewhat akin to this situation. That’s not the case with “What Wouldn’t Jesus Do?” “What Wouldn’t Jesus Do?,” the new book by Carlton “Bernie” Bernwall from Tate Publishing, is critical of Christianity in America to be sure, but the criticism is coming from a Christian. Acting as a sort of internal affairs, Bernwall examines the acts and influence of the Christian

While Waits’ sound has changed, the deeply romantic strain of his early music persists, sometimes aurally distorted, sometimes beautifully stated.

While still guarded about his personal life, Waits has opened up thoughtfully in recent years about the music he makes.

Blessedly, Maher’s book includes a detailed index, essential for a browsable book like this.

church in America over the last four decades and what kind of reality those actions have wrought today.

“What Wouldn’t Jesus Do?” is a heartfelt letter from one Christian to any other who will hear the message. It is at times harsh and unflinching, but never rude as the core audience for the book are indeed people like the author. The basic contention of his message being that Christianity should be about love and not about hate. Christians should be humbled by the fact that God has bestowed his mercy on them, and not prideful that they are the “chosen few.” He calls on Christians to examine themselves and the way that they present themselves to their country and the world. In my opinion, that’s something ee all should think about doing, believer and non-believer alike.

The book is written well, and is chock full of biblical verses to back up his arguments. It’s a wonderful book for those of the Christian faith, but even non-believers can take some worthwhile spiritual guidance from this work. Bernwall’s tone is firm but never overbearing, and for that I think he should be complimented, as his message is portrayed in a way completely opposite from that of a drunken college kid on the steps of Dale Hall.

— Levi Lee

BEST - SELLERS Fiction 1.”A Dance With Dragons,”

by George R.R. Martin 2.”Portrait of a Spy,” by Daniel Silva 3.”Dreams of Joy,” by Lisa See 4.”The Last Werewolf,” by Glen Duncan 5.”The Paris Wife,” by Paula McLain 6.”Catching Fire,” by Suzanne Collins 7.”State of Wonder,” by Ann Patchett 8.”Mockingjay,” by Suzanne Collins 9.”The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest,” by Stieg Larsson 10.”Maine,” by J. Courtney Sullivan Nonfiction 1.”Unbroken,” by Laura Hillenbrand 2.”A Stolen Life,” by Jaycee Dugard 3.”In the Garden of Beasts,”

by Erik Larson 4.”Go the F—to Sleep,” by Adam Mansbach 5.”Bossypants,” by Tina Fey 6.”The Greater Journey,” by David McCullough 7.”Area 51,” by Annie Jacobsen 8.”Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book,” by Jeff Kinney 9.”Zooborns,” by Andrew Bleiman and Chris Eastland 10.”20 Years Younger,” by Bob Greene — Los Angeles Times

Friday, Aug. 5, 2011

pop

5

COVER STORY

Lyric puts it all on the ‘Line’

By Johnnie-Margaret McConnell For POP

Reprising its final show at Oklahoma City’s Kirkpatrick Theatre in 2001 before moving to the Civic Center, Lyric Theatre breathes new life into the nine-time Tony Award-winning musical “A Chorus Line.”

New costumes, scenic elements and choreography help reframe the 1975 masterpiece

by Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban.

“I am not going to be reimagining “A Chorus Line” — that would be like trying to repaint the ‘Mona Lisa’ or rewrite ‘Hamlet,’” director and choreographer David Marquez said in a press release.

“A Chorus Line” takes place at a chorus-only casting call.

Broadway hopefuls learn one number after another for one of only eight spots.

“I Hope I Get It” opens the show, highlighting the chaos that is the musical theater audition process. Robert Montana plays the show’s director, Zach.

Without pausing, Montana yells and dances eight beats of choreography to a room full of dancers, repeats, then moves onto the next eight beats. You can feel the tension rising until finally members of the show’s leading line begin to sing out their frustrations and need for this job. Montana juxtaposes their anxiety and fear with a saunter and calm voice that screams control. I don’t think a hair moved out of place or a bead of sweat fell upon his brow the entire performance.

The number ends with Zack calling 17 back. Grabbing their headshots, they scatter like mice across the stage, only to sudden-

6

pop

From left, Lexi Windsor is Shelia, Natascia Diaz is Cassie and Felipe Gonzalez Quillin is Paul in the Lyric Theatre production of “A Chorus Line.”

Photo by Keith Rinearson, provided

ly find each other center stage, collectively turning towards the audience as they walk side-byside to the line. The final beat is signaled by everyone lifting

Friday, Aug. 5, 2011

headshots to cover their faces.

Michael Bennett’s direction empowers each character while also signaling clearly to the audience the story has begun.

Zack surprises the finalists by leaving the stage and joining the audience as he begins to play an armchair psychologist. “I want to know why you are here,” he

tells the nervous auditioners.

OU graduate Christopher Rice returns to the line for the fourth time as Jersey Boy Mike, a role he performed at OU a year ago this past May. Called upon first by Zach, Rice steps forward to sing “I Can Do That”. Turns out it wasn’t sister who needed to be in dance lessons. With his usual spring, Rice dances about the stage soft-shoed with a Jersey-accent that ‘al make yu forget his from just up the road in Edmond.

Personal history after history is told, often at Zach’s insistence.

The dancers stories slowly intertwine through common themes as illustrated in “At the Ballet”.

Sheila, Bebe and Maggie all pursued the stage to avoid the reality of their home lives. Lexi Windsor (Sheila), OU musical theater senior Alicia Clark (Bebe) and Keri René Fuller (Maggie) pull at your heart strings with their well-blended vocals on a very difficult harmonic number.

Another OU graduate Chelsea Umberham quickly turns the mood silly in “Sing!”

And, boy, can she not!

Umberham’s character Kristine can move, but she can’t find a pitch to save her life. The decending notes of the children’s song “Three Blind Mice” quickly becomes a Jackson Pollack work of art. Forget a common key. Kristine’s three pitches are seemingly pulled from air. You can’t help but laugh — and even wince — at Kristene’s tone deafness, while being amazed at the effort it must take to hit the “wrong” pitches. Marquez’s new choreography is most evident in “The Music and the Mirror”. The award-winning Natascia Diaz Continued on Page 7

ART EXHIBITS The following is a list of current and upcoming art exhibits in Norman: • Firehouse Art Center, 444 S. Flood Ave., features the Children’s Summer Art Show from Aug. 12-27 with an opening reception during the 2nd Friday Circuit of Art. • Jacobson House Native Art Center welcomes guests for The Legacy Lives: Kiowa Youth Art Competition and Exhibition through August with an Award Ceremony on Aug. 12 and Lecture & Workshop by renowned Kiowa Artist, Richard Aitson from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 13.

• Fred Jones Jr Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., on Aug. 12 will feature live music by Ann and Hugh Roff Gallery Arabesque, an Arabic and Celtic string and flute duet; short films presented by deadCENTER Film Festival: “Pillow” (18 min., USA) and “Floating Lanterns” (9 min., USA) • Third Eye Gallery, 120 E. Tonhawa St., features “Progressions,” an exhibition of recent mixed media paintings that layer text, scraps of dried flowers, silk, paper, and recycled paint by Sarah Capshaw. Refreshments will be served.

The Third Eye Gallery’s regular summer hours are 4 to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday. The Gallery is also open by appointment.

— Source: Norman Arts Council

Continued from Page 6 joins the company as Zack’s former lover Cassie.

Her plea to start again on the stage after a failed attempt at Hollywood falls on deaf ears with Zach. “I’m a dancer,” she declares. “I want to dance.” Cassie takes the stage alone to prove her desire. Moving about to a stage now full of mirrors, Marquez’s choreography changes the original intense high-kicks and shaking head to longarms lines and tension filled full body movements that compliment the number’s drum and saxophone lines. Cassie looks more at ease and self-assured through Marquez’s steps than the frantic, almost Tarantella dance in the original and 1985 movie productions.

Windsor, who you may remember as Evelyn Nesbit in last month’s “Ragtime,” plays Sheila.

She also performed in Lyric’s 2001 production as Val. Once a great figure, now Sheila accentuates her dazzling long golden hair and slender waistline. Sheila is not ready to admit her professional dancing career is coming to an end.

“What do you do when you can’t dance anymore?” is Chorus Line’s ultimate question to resolve. Sheila represents what most professionals fear, not being able to practice his or her craft. “What I Did For Love” is the show’s final number and tries to answer why one would ever commit to a profession such as dance that has an obviously short life-span. Together, cast members explore the personal sacrifices, unending commitment and inevitable end that awaits them all. The vocal blends are rich and full-bodied.

Standing together strong, the cast convinces you “no regrets” is the best anyone can ask for who has given their heart and soul to their profession.

Arguably the best curtain call of all musicals, the cast returns for a reprise of “One” with the only known individual applause for each chorus member.

Blending into one moving body they move like a single block of gold thanks to lighting by Helena Kuukka in their collective swan song.

Chorus Line continues its run at 8 tonight and 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday at the Civic Center Music Hall in Oklahoma City. To purchase tickets, visit www.lyrictheatreokc.com, call 524-9312, come by Lyric Theatre’s ticket office, 1727 N.W. 16th St. in Oklahoma City, or call the Civic Center box office at 2972264 or 1-800-364-7111. pop

AUGUST DVDS

Photo by Keith Rinearson, provided

Lyric Theatre’s production of “A Chorus Line,” featuring Natascia Diaz as Cassie, continues through Saturday in Oklahoma City.

9: Jumping the Broom 9: The Last Godfather 9: Mars Needs Moms 9: Paul 9: Your Highness 16: The Conspirator 16: The Final Destination 3D 16: The Grace Card 16: Hoodwinked Too! Hood Vs. Evil 16: Jane Eyre 16: Meet Monica Velour 16: Priest 16: Something Borrowed 20: The 5th Quarter 23: The Beaver 23: Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold 23: Sympathy for Delicious 23: Henry’s Crime 30: Bereavement 30: In A Better World 30: Madea’s Big Happy Family 30: Prom 30: Skateland 30: Win Win — AP

Friday, Aug. 5, 2011

pop

7

IN GOOD TASTE

AP Photo

In this publicity image released by Universal Pictures, Jason Bateman, left, and Ryan Reynolds are shown in a scene from “The Change-Up.”

The Change-Up

FILM REVIEW

Universal Pictures

((

Photos by Levi Lee

Clockwise from top are O Asian Fusion’s thunder sushi, pot stickers and sweet and sour chicken. The restaurant combines elements of Chinese, Japanese and Thai food to bring together a completely unique culinary experience.

O Asian Fusion offers unique delights

By Levi Lee For POP

For those of you who aren’t familiar with “Fusion” food it’s really pretty simple. Fusion food simply combines different culinary traditions without being categorized by any single one.

O Asian Fusion combines elements of Chinese, Japanese and Thai food to bring together a completely unique culinary experience. It’s something you can’t quite put your finger on, and that’s a good thing in today’s culinary world.

From the moment you walk into O Asian Fusion you can tell that it’s an excellent place to bring a date. the atmosphere is beautiful. The restaurant is based around a glass fountain bearing the restaurant’s logo. It’s a great atmosphere, and the food seems to

8

pop

match. I partook in the pork gyoza, which is an Asian style chicken dumplings served steamed or panseared with a ginger sesame soy dipping sauce ($5.95) for an appetizer, which was cooked to almost perfection. I wasn’t forced to choose between Chinese and Japanese for my main course however, because I was able to get not only sushi but also stir fry from the wok. For sushi, I tried the California roll, made with crab salad, cucumber and avocado rolled in sesame seeds ($4.95) and the thunder roll, made with tuna, salmon, cream cheese, avocado and masago, then topped spicy mayo/eel sauce and tempura fried. For my main course from the wok, I tried the sweet and sour chicken, served with bell peppers, onion, tomato, cucumber, pineapple in a Thai sweet and sour sauce with sticky fried rice. The sushi rolls weren’t quite

Friday, Aug. 5, 2011

up to par, and I would definitely consider the wok fried sweet and sour chicken the successful dish of the evening.

For those of you looking for specials O Asian Fusion has happy hour seven days a week 3 to 6 p.m., featuring $1.75 domestic beers. They also have $3.50 select rolls including California, tuna, garden, salmon, hamachi, and japanese bagel. Also during happy hour you can enjoy half price select appetizers including gyoza, edamame, tempura, and calaman. Their current drink specials include small carafes of Momokawa sake for $4 and all skinny cocktails for $4.

All in all, when you’re looking for a classy place to take a date that goes against the grain of your traditional restaurant, then O Asian Fusion is an excellent choice.

The comedy envelope has been pushed, pulled, twisted and torn during this current run of smash hit R-rated sex comedies. But “The ChangeUp,” the punctuation at the end of the summer of “Bridesmaids,” “Bad Teacher” and “Friends With Benefits,” dares to ask and answer the question that’s been out there since “The 40 Year-Old Virgin” and “Wedding Crashers” kicked off the craze: How far is too far, and when does amusingly raunchy just seem coarse?

I’d say any time you’ve filmed a script with the phrase “projectile pooping” you’ve arrived at crass. Baby diapering scenes? Sure. Let’s turn them bottom’s up and see — in close, anatomical detail — what pops out. And adults leave little to the bathroom imagination either in this cute and crude romp through the merits of married life as opposed to single life, and vice versa.

“Change-Up” is an adult variation on the old bodyswitch idea, a “Freaky Friday” with a dose of the freaky deaky. Jason Bateman is Dave, a nose-to-the-grindstone lawyer whose marriage has become a series of “your turn” diaper changes (three kids, twin infants among them)

and drives to and from school and after school activities.

He’s married to Jamie, played by the vulnerable yet hilariously brassy and bossy Leslie Mann.

Somehow Dave has stayed friends with his polar opposite. Mitch (Ryan Reynolds, channeling his “Van Wilder” past) is a slacker, a pothead actor and womanizer, irresponsible in the extreme and given to shouting inappropriate profanity at Dave’s tiny kids and into Dave’s speaker phone at the office.

A night of drinking leads them a shared moment at the urinal — in this case, an ornate fountain in one of Atlanta’s parks. They kvetch.

They complain. Next thing you know, they’ve said “I wish I had your life” and they’ve switched bodies.

The humor here comes not so much from the Jon LucasScott Moore script or David “Fred Claus” Dobkin’s perfunctory direction of it, but in seeing Bateman, the master of the buttoned-down introverted slow burn, take on the hyper patter of Reynolds. As he fakes his way through the day, we see Dave as a bad lawyer, bad husband and bad father.

His daughter’s getting tripped at ballet? Trip her back. “Always solve your Continued on Page 9

COMMENTS? Facebook.com/normanpop Twitter.com/transcriptpop

FILM

The MOVIE GEEK with

Jeff Johncox

NOW PLAYING

MOVIE LISTINGS

New Releases

• The Change-Up — A comedy in which a married father accidentally switches bodies with his best friend, leading to a series of wildly complex difficulties. R. (Warren Threatre, Hollywood Spotlight 14) • Rise of the Planet of the Apes — An origin story set in present day San Francisco, where man’s own experiments with genetic engineering lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy. PG-13.

(Warren Threatre, Hollywood Spotlight 14)

Also Showing

RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES Starring: James Franco, Freida Pinto, Andy Serkis, Tom Felton, Tyler Labine, John Lithgow Rated: PG-13 What Jeff says: Serkis is brilliant at this motion-capture stuff, but will the CGI apes look real or laughable as they’re taking on police horses and throwing spears from the tops of buildings? I miss the days when you’d just throw Roddy McDowall into an ape costume from K-Mart and let him loose.

Watch the @ review online

.com

COMING SOON Aug. 12: 30 Minutes or Less; Final Destination 5 Starring: 30 Minutes or Less — Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride; Final Destination 5 — Nicholas D’Agosto, Tony Todd, Emma Bell

• Bridesmaids — Picked as her best friend’s maid of honor, lovelorn and broke Annie looks to bluff her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals with an oddball group of bridesmaids. R. (Robinson Crossing) • Captain America: The First Avenger — After being deemed unfit for military service, Steve Rogers volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending America’s ideals.

PG-13. (Warren Theatre, Hollywood Spotlight 14) • Cars 2 — Star race car Continued from Page 8 problems with violence!”

Dave, who looks like Mitch, must take on the actor’s next role — reluctantly. He must deal with Mitch’s semi-estranged dad (Alan Arkin, given nothing funny to play). And Mitch, who looks like Dave, must cope with the big business deal his firm has been working on and fight Dave’s ongoing crush on the office hottie, played by Olivia Wilde as a sexy, smart vamp. She doesn’t have the funny or the touch-

@

.com

Lightning McQueen and his pal Mater head overseas to compete in the World Grand Prix race. But the road to the championship becomes rocky as Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. G. (Warren Theatre) • Cowboys and Aliens — A spaceship arrives in Arizona, 1873, to take over the Earth, starting with the Wild West region. A posse of cowboys are all that stand in their way. PG-13. (Warren Theatre, Hollywood Spotlight 14) • Crazy, Stupid, Love — A father’s life unravels while he deals with a marital crisis and tries to manage his relationship with his children. PG-13. (Warren Theatre, Hollywood Spotlight 14) • Friends with Benefits — While trying to avoid the clichés of Hollywood romantic comedies, Dylan (Justin Timberlake) and Jamie (Mila Kunis) soon discover however that adding the act of sex to their friendship does lead to complications. R. (Warren Theatre, Hollywood Spotlight 14) • The Hangover Part II — Two years after the bachelor party in Las Vegas, Phil, Stu, Alan and Doug jet to Thailand for Stu’s wedding.

Stu’s plan for a subdued pre-wedding brunch, however, goes seriously awry. R. (Robinson Crossing) ing scenes Mann delivers in her wife-and-mother role, but then, Wilde has yet to earn them.

Bateman has the more fun role and makes more of the transition. We don’t get nearly enough of the pitter-patter of Reynolds in the early scenes to make up for how mild-mannered and in-overhis-head he has to play (not nearly as funny) as he takes on Bateman’s acting-as-reacting shtick.

Nudity, sex, raw language and trips to the toilet — while fitfully amusing — are

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 — The final chapter begins as Harry, Ron and Hermione continue their quest of finding and destroying the Dark Lord’s three remaining Horcruxes, the magical items responsible for his immortality. But as the mystical Deathly Hallows are uncovered, and Voldemort finds out about their mission, the biggest battle begins and life as they know it will never be the same again. PG-13. (Warren Theatre, Hollywood Spotlight 14) • Horrible Bosses — Three friends conspire to murder their awful bosses when they realize they are standing in the way of their happiness. R. (Warren Theatre, Hollywood Spotlight 14) • Kung Fu Panda 2 — Po joins forces with a group of new kung-fu masters to take on an old enemy with a deadly new weapon.

PG. (Robinson Crossing) • Larry Crowne — After losing his job, a middle-aged man reinvents himself by going back to college. PG-13. (Robinson Crossing) • Mr. Popper’s Penguins — The life of a businessman (Jim Carrey) begins to change after he inherits six penguins, and as he transforms his apartment into a winter wonderland, his professional side starts to unravel.

PG. (Robinson Crossing) • Pirates of the Caribbean: here simply for the shock value. This overlong and overly obvious movie has little flow to it, no comic momentum to take us to the ending we see coming pretty much right at the beginning.

Yes, it’s a body-switch comedy where each character “learns” about himself and the other guy’s life and is the better for it. The trouble with “The Change-Up” is that it doesn’t change-up enough of the formula to render this new.

— The Orlando Sentinel

Check us out online at www.normantranscript.com

On Stranger Tides — Jack Sparrow and Barbossa embark on a quest to find the elusive fountain of youth, only to discover that Blackbeard and his daughter are after it, too. PG-13. (Robinson Crossing) • The Smurfs — When the evil wizard Gargamel chases the tiny blue Smurfs out of their village, they tumble from their magical world and into ours. PG. (Warren Theatre, Hollywood Spotlight 14) • Transformers:Dark of the Moon — The Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the moon, and race against the Decepticons to reach it and to learn its secrets. PG-13. (Warren Theatre, Hollywood Spotlight 14) • Zookeeper — A group of zoo animals decide to break their code of silence in order to help their lovable zookeeper (Kevin James) find love — without opting to leave his current job for something more illustrious. PG. (Warren Theatre) For Hollywood Spotlight 14 showtimes, call 579-0911 or visit gohollywood.com. For Robinson Crossing 6 showtimes, call 447-1005 or visit starplexcinemas.com. For Warren Theatre showtimes, call 703-3777 or visit warrentheatres.com.

• no passes

no passes or supersavers

RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES • (PG13) 12:45 1:30 3:35 4:25 6:50 7:25 9:30 10:05 THE CHANGE-UP (R) 1:00 3:45 7:15 9:55 CRAZY STUPID LOVE • (PG13) 12:50 3:40 7:10 9:50 COWBOYS & ALIENS (PG13) 12:40 1:10 1:40 3:20 3:50 4:20 6:30 7:00 7:30 9:10 9:40 10:10 THE SMURFS 3D • (PG) 7:20 9:45 THE SMURFS 2D • (PG) 1:20 4:05

CAPTAIN AMERICA 3D (PG13) 12:35 3:30 6:35 9:25 CAPTAIN AMERICA 2D (PG13) 1:05 4:00 7:05 10:00 HARRY POTTER 3D (PG13) 3:25 9:35 HARRY POTTER 2D (PG13) 12:30 6:40 HORRIBLE BOSSES (R) 1:25 4:10 6:45 9:15 FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS (R) 1:15 3:55 6:55 9:35 TRANSFORMERS 3 2D (PG13) 12:55 4:15 7:35

Just S. of 4th St. on I-35 in Moore ALL Digital Cinema & THX

SIMPLY THE BEST SHOWTIMES FOR THE GRAND AUDITORIUMS AND BALCONIES

COWBOYS AND ALIENS PG-13 12:30-3:15-6:20-9:15 RISE OF PLANET OF APES PG-13 1:20-4:10-7:20-10:15 Balconies closed for first times.

OKLAHOMA’S LARGEST SCREENS

$2.3 AP

MOVIE LINE:(405) 703-3777 Times For Today Only WarrenTheatres.Com *No Passes

Domestic revenues, July 29-31 Rank • Film • Weekend gross (millions) Gross to date • Weeks in release • Screens

SOURCE: Hollywood.com Box-Office

Why wait in line? PRINT TICKETS AT HOME www.GOHOLLYWOOD.com

THE CHANGE-UP R 1:30-4:30-7:30-10:30 RISE OF PLANET OF APES PG-13 12:20-3:20-6:30-9:25 CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE PG-13 12:55-4:00-6:50-9:50 THE SMURFS * PG 3D $$ 7:00-9:45 2D 12:15-1:15-3:15-4:15-6:05-8:55 COWBOYS AND ALIENS PG-13 1:30-4:25-7:25-10:25 FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS R 2:00-4:45-7:35-10:25 CAPTAIN AMERICA PG-13 3D * $$ 3:00-6:10-9:10 2D 12:40-3:35-6:45-10:00 DEATHLY HALLOWS II PG-13 3D * $$ 7:30-10:30 2D 1:30-4:30 HORRIBLE BOSSES R 2:15-4:50-7:40-10:20 ZOOKEEPER PG 12:05-2:45 TRANSFORMERS 3 2D PG-13 6:00-9:30 CARS 2 2D G 12:00 $$ Extra Charge for Digital 3-D

Box office top 10

1. Cowboys and Aliens $36.4 • 1 • 3,750 2. The Smurfs 3D $35.6 • 1 • 3,395 3. Captain America $117.4 • 2 • 3,715 4. Harry Potter 7 Part II $318.5 • 3 • 4,145 5. Crazy Stupid Love $19.1 • 1 • 3,020 6. Friends with Benefits $38.2 • 2 • 2,926 7. Horrible Bosses $96.3 • 4 • 2,510 8. Transformers 3 $338.0 • 5 • 2,604 9. Zookeeper $68.8 • 4 • 2,418 10. Cars 2 $182.1 • 6 • 1,763

a 3-D premium will be applied to each purchased 3-D ticket.

$36.4 $35.6 $25.6 $22.0 $19.1 $9.3 $7.2 $6.1 $4.3

SUPPORT YOUR POLICE

Friday, Aug. 5, 2011

pop

9

NINE NIGHTS IN NORMAN 06 SAT

05 FRI

8 p.m. — Gary Allan, Riverwind Casino 10 p.m. — The Jacuzzi Lifeguards, The Brewhouse, $5 TBA — Hosty Duo, The Deli

7:30 p.m. — Jonbear Fourtet at Summer Breeze, Lions Park, Free pop pick TBA — Mike Hosty Solo, The Deli

VISUAL ARTS

MUSIC

10 p.m. — John Calvin, The Brewhouse, $5 TBA — Cookies and Cards fundraiser, The Deli pop pick

07 SUN

08 MON 7 p.m. — Travis Linville, The Deli, Free 10 p.m. — The Damn Quails, The Deli

09 TUE 7 p.m. — Singer/Songwriter Association of Norman, Michelangelo’s Coffee & Wine Bar, Free pop pick TBA — The Tracy Reed Band, The Deli

TBA — The David Mayfield Parade, The Deli

11 THU 7 p.m. — Camille Harp, The Deli, Free 10 p.m. — Ashely Skyie with Unmarked Cars and JD Thompson, The Deli 10 p.m. — The Pizza Thieves, The Brewhouse, $5 pop pick 11 p.m. — Bungalouski, The Brewhouse, $5 pop pick

12 FRI 9 p.m. — Portal Immortal Rock Series Tribute to Phil Collins and Genesis, The Brewhouse, $7 TBA — Camille Harp, The Deli TBA — Luna Moth, Bluebonnet Bar, $5 pop pick

13 SAT 7 p.m. — Fan Jam: Under the Big Top, Riverwind Casino 10 p.m. — The Stumblers, The Brewhouse, $5 TBA — The Saucy Gentlemen’s Club, The Deli

6 p.m. — Second Friday Circuit of Art, Downtown Norman galleries and stores, Free pop pick

9:30 — “The Inspector General” at Movies in the Park, The Depot, Free

2 p.m. — Discovery Day, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Free with museum admission TBA — Lazy Rockin B Horse Show, Cleveland County Fairgrounds, Free

OFF BEAT

FILM & LIT

PERFORMING ARTS

10 a.m. — Free Admission Tuesday, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Free pop pick

10 WED

10

pop

Friday, Aug. 5, 2011

EVENT SUBMISSIONS To get your show or event in POP’s Nine Nights calendar, send the event name, time, date, location and admission price to pop@normantranscript.com.

Weekly deadline is noon Tuesdays.

PATRONS: NORMAN’S NIGHT OUT Neighbors participate in a contra dance Tuesday on Virginia Street in Norman as part of National Night Out celebrations.

Photo by Joy Hampton

PHOTO SUBMISSIONS Photo submissions for Patrons must be high-resolution and include caption information with the names of people in the photo, along with the date, place and name of event where it was taken.

Photos are printed as space allows.

Ilo Bonner enjoys the fun during National Night Out at McKinley Elementary in Norman.

Photo by Jerry Laizure

Jeanette Coker makes a hot dog during her National Night Out event in the 600 block of East Main Street. Visitors to her party included Ward 4 Councilmember Carol Dillingham and her husband, Larry, and Norman Master Police Officer Rick Selleres. “He’s a good officer,” Coker said. “He takes good care of us.”

Photo by Joy Hampton

Photo by Joy Hampton

Neighbors enjoy watermelon, lemonade and conversation as they build relationships during National Night Out. Judy Robinson, Brenna Wallach, Emily Robinson and Neil Robinson chow down at McKinley Elementary.

Friday, Aug. 5, 2011

pop

11